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By COURTNEY LEWIS
PLATTSBURGH — Entering the season, the Cardinals were focused on protecting their own zone, partly because they weren't sure how much they were going to score at the other end.
As they prepare to wrap up the first semester, goal scoring hasn't been an issue. The Cardinals are fifth in Division III in goals per game.
"I think our offense has been fine," Plattsburgh State coach Kevin Houle said. "We're getting it from a different variety of people. Megan (DiJulio) has five goals; she's off to a real good start. And (Stephanie Moberg) is playing well and producing.
"But I think everybody's contributing that's playing. Whether they're getting on the board or not, they're controlling the offensive zone and doing a good job."
Plattsburgh State (5-0) hosts Neumann tonight and Sunday afternoon.
The Cardinals graduated four forwards and their top-scoring defenseman from last year. That group included three of their top five scorers — a combined 89 points.
Through five games this season, they've averaged 4.8 goals per game. Moberg leads the team with three goals and four assists, and DiJulio and Kayla McDougall are tied for second with five points.
The Cardinals don't have anyone in the top 25 nationally. Instead they've spread the scoring around — Houle said they have three really strong lines. The top three scorers all skate on different lines, and 19 players have at least a point.
"It's nice because it's everybody now," DiJulio said. "It's not just a couple girls or one line. It's more of a team thing this year. Nobody's waiting for someone else to do it. We all know it's gotta get done, and everybody's got the same goal."
Neumann (4-2-1, 2-2-1) opened the ECAC West season by giving RIT a fight. The Knights tied the Tigers and lost by a goal the next night. They're fifth in the conference and are coming off a 4-3 loss to Utica.
"They're a very talented team," Houle said. "They've got some forwards that can really go. And they probably have one or two forwards that are as good as anybody's forwards in the conference. So they're a dangerous team, and we have to be ready."
Jessica Schroeder leads Neumann with 13 points, and Diane Peters has 11. Senior Laura Keeley and freshman Shannon Donnelly have shared time in net.
The Knights are five points behind Plattsburgh State, which is in first place and is the only team without a loss or a tie.
After this weekend, the Cardinals will be off until Jan. 3, when they play defending national champion Amherst.
"We really want to finish this semester strong and come back on a good note," DiJulio said. "Like Coach said in practice, (the good start to the season) doesn't mean anything if we lose these two games.
"We gotta keep going strong."
E-mail Courtney Lewis at: clewis@pressrepublican.com
